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BRONZE SCULPTURES IN THE NEW LANDIS GREEN FOUNTAIN
(PHOTO: BILL LAX/FSU PHOTO LAB)
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FSU unveils new sculptures during Heritage Day 2005
BY ALONDA THOMAS
Regardless of the weather or time of year, six students frolic in the water of a fountain at Florida State University. Since the students are actually bronze statues, unveiled as part of this year's Heritage Day celebration, they'll play for years to come as part of a new fountain sculpture on Landis Green commemorating the history of the university.
"The Landis Green Legacy Fountain Sculptures depict the history of Florida State University's student body reaching back to the early days of the school in the 1900s through the transition of the school to coed status in 1947 and beyond," said Donna McHugh, assistant vice president of University Relations. "These lifelike figures embody the richness of Florida State's students and will be a treasured addition to the beauty and history of the campus."
Created by renowned artist and FSU alumnus Ed Jonas, the fountain is home to three sculptures that represent the era between 1915-1947 and three that depict present day life on the FSU campus. The section that represents the Florida State College for Women faces Landis Hall. The contemporary figures -- transitioned through a wall of water -- represent the passing of time and the university's contemporary growth. True to his distinctive style, Jonas painstakingly designed each sculpture in phases, from bone structure to muscle armature to clothing detail.
"To preserve the illusion of motion in the figure?you have to make sure that the right muscles are tensed and the right muscles are relaxed," said Jonas. "I do this so that if a vascular surgeon were to walk by the piece and look at a vein, he would say, 'That vein is in the right place.'"
Such precision is a labor of love for Jonas, who said he is privileged to make this contribution to his alma mater. He believes the sculptures will encourage current students to learn more about the university's history. For example, why is there a letter "F" on the sweater of the historical bronze statue sitting at the water's edge?
Alumna Kitty Hoffman, '36, says the "F" represented the F Club, an FSCW organization for all the student athletes who won their letters playing sports.
"To be initiated into the F Club was quite an experience," said Hoffman, who won her letters playing volleyball and baseball and serving as captain of both teams.
Hoffman has held several titles that solidify her place in Florida State University history, including president of the student body, dean of women and science professor during the time the school transitioned into a co-educational institution.
"We began to teach men in the classroom in 1946, before the transition, because there were so many men coming back from World War II and they wanted their education," said Hoffman, for whom the Hoffman Teaching Laboratory is named. "I thought that we were really progressive to accept men into the classroom. There was considerable opposition from people who wanted us to stay a nice, subdued girls' school, but I never felt like that."
The Landis Green Legacy Fountain Sculptures mark the beginning of the second phase of FSU's Legacy Walk, a historical tour of campus that highlights the architecture, sculptures and green space of campus. Phase I was unveiled in October 2004 as the Eppes Phase, named for the founder of the university, Francis Eppes.
Phase II, named the Student Legacy Walk, begins at the new fountain and passes through the core of student activity on campus, highlighting student leaders of the past and serving as a living legacy to current and future students. Lined with banners displaying campus life, the Student Legacy Walk guides visitors from Landis Green north toward the Bellamy Building, around to newly renovated grounds behind the Crenshaw Building and Moore Auditorium, and circles the Integration Statue before it wraps around the Student Services Building and ends back at Landis.
For more information visit www.fsu.edu/~legacy.
From the Tallahassee Democrat
Making Impressions: Sculptures, fountain trace evolution of FSU
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